Navigation

Fictional characters make my world go round

Monthly Archives: December 2013

I signed up for Brianna’s 24 hour read-a-thon. While I’ve got a late start, I’m armed with oodles of coffee and snacks to get me through four books! I picked four I’ve been dying to read, Continue reading →

BOOK BLURB
From the moment Anna James meets the strange prisoner Emry Logan, she becomes instantly obsessed and will stop at nothing to try to get another interaction with him. But going against her family and church aren’t without consequence. She is deemed a traitor as she quickly realizes that there’s more to Emry’s past than just murder. He has a special ability that is far from human that he only shares with her. Feeling this magical connection, Anna has to free her beautiful inmate so that they can be together finally, but someone else knows about Emry’s secret and wants Anna to stop digging for answers as she finds herself in the midst of a modern day witch hunt. The life of an innocent pastor’s kid suddenly is turned upside down in a war between good and evil as Anna begins to wonder which people in her life are on the side of good, and is she one of them.

BLURB
When Anna becomes separated from Emry, she has no other choice but to explore the foreign world of Evadere on her own. She soon discovers that it is tainted from a stirring turmoil among the people.

Evadere has been a place of respite and escape from the difficulties of Earth for Anna and Emry, but alone on Evadere, Anna is pulled into the stirrings of an uprising between the Scaves and the ones who force them to live as scavengers. Anna is determined not to let the fear and attempts on her life stop her from finding her way back to Emry.

But Anna is shocked when she discovers who Emry really is, the forces of evil supporting him and how the temptations in paradise have been misleading them both.

It will take all the strength and determination Anna and Emry possess to survive Evadere, even as the killing starts …

BLURB
Emry and Anna’s love has always been forbidden. They’ve been hunted, seen those around them murdered and still don’t know who to blame or who to trust. In a world where Anna is considered just a human, can peace be achieved between those inhabiting Evadere and those cast out and left for dead? They have to find out who is after them before it’s too late, before one of the lives lost is their own, but are Emry’s powers strong enough to save the one he loves? As their wedding day approaches, so does a war, and no one sees it coming.

MEET SARA
Sara wrote her first book at age six. Of course, it was only a few pages, handwritten by a 6-year-old and was about kitty cats. As a child, some days she would be out venturing in the woods with her older brother and cousins, but sometimes would stay inside and create stories, write them down in a notebook and then pretend to publish them by typing them up on her mother’s old typewriter. “I know, what a weird child I was.” From then on out, Sara didn’t want to be anything but a writer. When others would ask her classmates what they wanted to be when they grew up, some would say the usual things, singers, veterinarians, astronauts, but not Sara. Sara would say writer, and then she’d get a strange stare. Writer? What child says they want to be a writer?

Sara graduated from United High School in 2000, a small school out in the country where everyone knew each other from kindergarten up and could tell you every little detail about each other and still can. “It was a nice area to grow up, and I love going back.”

In 2004, Sara graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a bachelor’s in, you guessed it, creative writing. She had such a blast in college, met some of the greatest people that Sara still remains in close contact with along with her husband, Brad. They were married and had two children back to back, so while Sara was in “mommy land,” her writing was put on the back-burner.

Sara started writing again in the summer of 2010, and after three months, ‘Strange in Skin’ became the product of her imagination. Sara had so much fun writing it, she couldn’t stop. She would work all day and then stay up late at night typing up a few more chapters. She didn’t want it to end, so Sara decided she would have to write more books to follow it. The main characters, Anna James and Emry Logan, were people Sara could relate to, that she loved to relate to. There’s nothing quite like a sappy love story that’s so good it sucks you in. You want them to be together. They have to be together and you can’t stop reading until they are together. That with a little paranormal twist, and voila, a book is born.

Then Sara and Brad became proud parents once again. Sara is still in “mommy land” but also Strange in Skin fantasy land. The mix of both raising children and writing makes for some pretty entertaining days. Sara could write a million stories on her kids alone, especially the things that come out of their mouths that you’re either so shocked they said or are so funny that you can’t stop laughing.

It tells the world that you are weak. It tells the world your family and friends have failed. It leaves them with guilt that they could have done more but didn’t. It tells them they are clueless and helpless.

I am weak, but I am not selfish.

My suicide will not leave my family and friends with guilt and shame; it will leave them thankful that they knew me for the short time I was here.

– Cosette Hugo

Her brother died. Her parents divorced. Her high school bully is relentless. Cosette doesn’t have a lot to live for, but it isn’t until she accidentally kills someone that Cosette makes the decision to take her own life.

Unwilling to bring shame to her mom, best friend Mattie, or her boyfriend Chris, Cosette decides the best method of suicide is to become a victim of the local serial killer, The Poser. But every time she goes out to find him she gets attacked; her instincts take over, and she ends up killing her attackers. This quickly leads to unbearable guilt. Desperate to finish this before she gets caught or racks up more victims, Cosette does the unthinkable.

“And when I reach my final goal, to meet my brother in heaven, and we’re looking down at my victim in Hell, he will say to me ‘Well done, Cosette. What a Beautiful Suicide.'”

“No, I just want to apologize.” He loosely holds my hand and walks me to my couch. “I crossed a line I said I wouldn’t and you warned me. You know enough about me to know that I’m no boy scout. But I want you to know that I know enough about you that I think I should stop asking questions.”

I hate what he’s saying to me, but before I get mad at him, he holds up a finger. “I have something for you.”

“Do I want it?”

“Actually, I have two things, and yes, you’ll want one and need the other.” He holds his fist out. I put my hand underneath, waiting to catch whatever he drops. “This I stole, because that’s just what I do, but it doesn’t make it any less meaningful, okay?”

“Okay.” I grin at his cute introduction.

“If you’ve changed your mind about committing to me, then let me know now before I open my hand and look stupid.”

“You saw me completely naked. I think that’s commitment enough.”

“Very true, good answer.” He opens his hand and drops a small ring with two diamonds separated by a deep blue sapphire. “This is a promise ring. It’s not an engagement ring or anything like that. It’s just me pledging myself to you. If you accept me, then accept the ring. If you aren’t sure, then don’t take it. I know it’s old fashioned, but I’m an old fashioned kind of guy.”

“I’ll take it and I’ll take you.” He slides it on my finger while I cry. I lunge at him and kiss him. He smiles and kisses me back.

He’s perfect, just perfect.

I wish I could be like him, so loving, and thoughtful, and kind—but I’m not. I knew when I started that I would not be good for Chris. Shit, I’m on a suicide mission and here he wants to pledge himself to me.

“Chris, I can’t take this.”

“What? Rejection already?”

I pull away from him, feeling the vacuuming black hole sucking onto me, letting me know it’s there waiting for me. “I’m not good enough for you, Chris. I can’t take you down with me.”

“What do you mean down with you? Cosette, I’ll go anywhere with you. You’re perfect for me.”

“The Cozy you know is not the real me. You are pledging yourself to my body, not my soul.”

“Oh my God, I do! But my soul is dying. It started dying a long time ago and keeps dying the more I cross these lines. It’s not fair for me to offer you something that isn’t perfect. I can’t take this from you. I’m not worthy.” I take the ring off and hand it back to him.

He stares at it, confused. “Did I happen to mention that this was stolen?”

I chuckle through tears.

I was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Family life was rough with a religious mother and a short-tempered, alcoholic father. (Picture Archie Bunker) My escape was reading and music. I think I was the only kid with my nose in a book during the Air Force Academy football games.

As a teen I was an 80’s new waver with black shaved hair, a pale face and bright red lipstick. I was very self-destructive and always got into trouble. Needing a change I followed my father’s footsteps and joined the Air Force.

During my four year enlistment I was stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada where I met my wonderful husband. We both got out of the military and moved to Southern Indiana, on the outskirts of Louisville, Kentucky. I have two teenage boys whom I try to embarrass but have yet to succeed, they have great senses of humor.

I wrote my first novel over ten years ago and was on the verge of having it published when, sadly, my publisher passed away. I shelved my books for a few years to work on our family business. Now I’m back to writing and have decided my fate is in my own hands. And since I hate being told what to do I am self-publishing.

Buy Links

Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership.

They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

Skylar Dewitt has been ostracized her entire life due to her grandfather’s well-known sympathies with the Nazis. But now her grandfather’s body has been recovered in the Netherlands in an area famous for being a Nazi killing ground. Why would her grandfather be buried in a place legendary for assassinations of resistance members? Skylar jets off to Holland in search of answers about her grandfather’s demise. Along the way she finds long-lost family and old friends but will she solve the mystery of what happened to her grandfather? And maybe she discovers something more valuable than resolving any mystery could be: herself.

About the Author:
I was born and raised in Wisconsin but think I’m a European (a cloggy to be exact). After spending my senior year of high school in Germany, I developed a bad case of wanderlust that is yet to be cured. After high school I returned to the U.S. to attend college ending up with a Bachelor’s degree in History at the tender age of 20 while still managing to spend time bouncing back and forth to Europe during my vacations. Unable to find a job after college and still suffering from wanderlust, I joined the U.S. Army as a Military Policewoman for 5 years. While stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, I met my future husband, a flying Dutchman. After being given my freedom from the Army, I went off to law school. I finished law school and moved to the Netherlands with my husband and became a commercial lawyer for more than a decade. When I could no longer handle the law, we upped stakes and moved to Germany to start a B&B. Three years after starting the B&B, I got the itch to try something else and decided to return to one of my first loves: writing. Between tennis, running, traveling, singing off tune, reading and playing lawyer part-time, I write novels and poetry, blog about everything under the sun and review books.

My Review:
In short, Buried Appearances is a riveting read. Skylar is an angry young woman; her grandfather was known as a Nazi sympathizer and that knowledge tore apart Skylar’s family. What she knows about her past completely changes when his body is found in an area known for resistance members. Haggerty kept me glued to the page from the very beginning; you want Skylar to keep digging, to rid herself of such a heavy burden. Something I’ve always loved about books was being able to travel to places without having to leave a room. Such was the case with Buried Appearances; Haggerty makes such wonderful use of the setting. I give this historical mystery 4.5/5stars.

C. Moore Catholic High School’s 10-year reunion was organized as many reunions are – to reminisce, to see who had made a success of their lives, and in truth, to gossip on who had not. But this party in the secluded, 1890’s mansion once owned by a long dead, paranoid WWII Veteran, was to become anything but typical.

After a horrible accident within the mansion, the alumni realize they are locked in and fighting for their lives. Instantly, tempers rise and fingers are pointed as the number of living alumni begins to rapidly decrease. Theories range from there being a murderer in the midst to the mansion possibly being haunted by the previous owner’s ghost.

Who or what is responsible and will anyone make it out alive?

Find out for yourself in this combination of a mystery and psychological thriller, with a twisted ending!

About the author:

A. A. Pencil works part time as a school nurse at an all-boys Catholic school in New York City. As a Lupus survivor, she uses writing as a significant part of her therapy and you will see influences from classical writers such as Agatha Christie and Edgar Alan Poe in her work. When not working or writing, she enjoys cooking, shopping and walking. She has sponsored a child in Mexico for over three years with a children’s organization. She currently lives in a borough of New York City with her extended family who are her greatest supporters.

To celebrate the release of AA Pencil’s debut novel “The Reunion” – During the months of November & December – 1% of the gross sales of all novels with Lavish Publishing, LLC will be donated to the Lupus Foundation of America. The donation will be made in May 2014 in honor of AA Pencil and National Lupus Awareness Month.

My review:
Ever imagine what it’d be like to get back together with your old schoolmates? Does it involve lots of backstabbing, murder and mayhem? Gosh, I hope not! That’s what books are for. Namely, A.A. Pencil’s Reunion. I was drawn to this book as the synopsis reminded me of Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians, one of my favorite books. Put a bunch of people in a room and have them start dropping like flies and you’ve got my attention! In Reunion there are all types. There’s the evil queen bee, class clown, awkward girl, jock, not-so-gracious hostess and the list goes on. Put them in a house together and everything goes awry. Old, nasty secrets are released in the form of a game, prompting a few to leave. There are MANY characters; so much so, that I admit, it was a bit difficult to remember who was who and their connection amongst other characters. Much of the beginning is spent on introducing the reader to the characters, their shared past and what they’ve recently been up to so Reunion starts out a bit slow but picks up right when everyone is ready to settle into bed. Two former schoolmates are dead and since the “party” started with a bevy of terrible secrets, no one is without suspicion. When the action starts, Christie’s influence is evident on Pencil’s writing and here is where she shines. I give Reunion 4/5 stars.

I finished the first book on my list!!! The Art of Letting Go Yay! And, wow, marvelous read. (review coming soon!)

Day 3’s challenge was to list my top 10 favorite books of the year

1. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

2. Room by Emma Donoghue

3. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

4. How to Win a Guy in 10 Dates

5. The Art of Letting Go by Anna Bloom

6. White Oleander by Janet Finch

7. Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

9. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

10. The Monster in the Bubble by Andi Green

Day 4’s challenge, hosted by Lori was a bit of a…challenge? as i don’t have any physical copies of the books with me at the moment and poetry never came naturally. Alas, I gave it ago. Not exactly “spine” poetry, but you get the idea,

He gave me a cocky grin, “I don’t blame you…it’s just so smooth and creamy.”

Two can play that game.

“I love how it melts in my mouth” I replied, trying to keep a straight face.

“Oh really? I need a demonstration.” He stood up and walked towards the kitchen. A few seconds later, he reappeared holding something behind his back.

“What are you hiding?”

“Your desert, of course.”

I narrowed my eyes, “I’m starting to think that we’ve just been talking about two different things.”

He shook his head and revealed the tub of chocolate body paint.

I laughed, “We are so not doing this.”

“We so are.”

“You’re crazy” I told him.

“Crazy for you.”

“Stop trying to sweet talk me.”

He winked, “Good one, I see what you did there. Sweet talk…chocolate, now take off your clothes.”

“But how will you know if I’m just using you for your chocolate?”

He slowly sauntered towards me, never once taking his eyes away from mine. My heart began to race as he bent down and whispered in my ear, “I’ll take the risk if you take off your clothes.”

Author Bio

Karli Perrin is a 25 year old English Language & Linguistics graduate from
Manchester, England. She has always been a big lover of books and is the author of the ‘April’ series.
She is a big believer of fate and is a sucker for a happy ending. She honestly
believes that there is a reason why you are reading this right now (apart from the fact that you are awesome!)
Her ultimate goal in life is to live in a house made entirely out of books with her best friend, who also happens to be her fiancé.

If you’re like me, your bookshelves are bursting at the seams and you’ve taken to stuffing new books in random drawers. So when I came across Dana & Jen’s Read-a-thon, I just had to sign up. I’ve got 6 books on my list and I’ve already read a third of my first book!

In 1482 Mary, the last Duchess of Burgundy, lies on her deathbed in a castle in Flanders. She is only 25. In her final moments she makes a wish that, 500 years later, will threaten the lives of a boy and a girl living in Brussels.

The Master’s Book is the story of Sean, an Irish teenager, just arrived in Brussels to a house that is also a crime scene. Together with Stephanie, his classmate, he finds an illuminated manuscript, only for it to be stolen almost at once.

Where did this manuscript come from? Who was it originally made for? Is there a connection with the beautiful tomb Sean has seen in Bruges? Above all, why does someone want this book so badly that they are prepared to kill for it?

Part thriller and part paper-chase, this book is aimed at boys and girls of twelve and over.

Author bio Philip Coleman has worked as a biologist for most of his life—in Ireland, Belgium and now in Switzerland. Having been an avid reader all his life, he took up writing only in 2006. This is his first published novel. He drew his inspiration for the story from the period he spent working for the EU in Brussels. He has a grown-up son and daughter (who were roughly the same ages as Sean and Maeve during the time in Brussels but otherwise aren’t a bit like them at all!). He now lives in France.

I truly enjoyed The Master’s Book. I love a good mystery and who hasn’t had the desire to solve a crime themselves? The main character, Sean is likeable, admirable and ever so relatable. His schoolboy crush on classmate and fellow sleuth, Stephanie, drives many of his actions. The set-up itself is intriguing: Sean and his family, including one of my favorite characters, pesky, yet bright, younger sister Maeve have moved into a new home in Brussels. And not just any new home, its previous owner was murdered (fodder for local gossip that leaves dwellers to gawk at the homes’ new inhabitants). Sean’s mam isn’t too happy about it and neither is Sean until he meets Stephanie at his new school. He’s immediately taken by her and she by the knowledge of the history of his home. They connect over said history and together find a secret room within the basement. Sean’s interested but not nearly as much as Stephanie and it’s her probing that gets this mysterious door opened. Behind that door lies another and in that small room lies a safe. Of course, they’ve thought about notifying their parents but Stephanie would rather wait and due to Sean’s infatuation with her, agrees. That is until, the two face real danger and have no choice but to present their parents with their findings. Master’s keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat, and makes you root for it’s brave, though sometimes stubborn protagonists. It’s truly an enjoyable and thrilling read.